Musical instruments



Feb. 2 1926. Q 1,571,823

F. R. WEAVER MUS I CAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Nov. 10, 1925 2Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR WITNESS: ATTORNEY Feb. 2 1926. 1,571,823

F. R. WEAVER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed NOV. 10, 1925 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2Ewvzii Z/ea Ver- INVENTOR wrruzss: ATmRNEY State of Missouri, haveinvented new Patented Feb. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES FRANK R. WEAVER, OF FAIRGROVE, MISSOURI.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed November 10, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK R. lVnavn-n, a citizen of the United States,residing at F airgrove, in the county of Greene and and usefulImprovements in Musical Instruments, of which the following is aspecification. v I

This invention has reference to a nuisical instrument designed for useby a comic musician, and has for its object to provide astringedinstrument, such as a banjo, with noise producing devices which will notinterfere with the proper playing of the instrument.

A further object is to produce an in strument of this character whicn iselastically supported from the neck or shoulder of the musician andwhich has supported thereon a plurality of sound producing de vices thatmay be operated when the instrument is held in proper playing positionand which are also designed to be sounded by contact with an obstaclewhen the musician forces the instrument away from him and expands theelastic support, and to be likewise sounded by contact with air currentsor the contraction of the support and the return of the instrument toinitial playing position.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects which will present.themselves as the nature of the invention is better understood,reference is to be had to the drawings which accompany and which formpart of this application.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a. perspective view showing the instrumentsupported in playing posit1on on a musician.

Figure 2 is a similar view with the instrument forced away from theplayer.

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevation of the improvement.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation thereof.

The remaining figures illustrate details.

The stringed instrument of my improvement is in the nature, of a banjo,the head 1 of which being, however, of a smaller circumference thanusual. Also preferably the band portion of the head may be of strongermaterial than that usually employed. The string board 2 may be alsoreinforced to strengthen the same. Secured to the head and to the neckof the instrument there are the ends of an elastic band 3, and this bandSerial No. 674,604.

is arranged either around the neck or over the shoulder of the musician.

On its rear face the drum head of the instrument is formed with anoutstanding peripheral flange t designed to protect the drum head whenthe instrument is thrown by the musician to contact with an obstacle, asillustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. In addition to this the flange4 provides a means whereby a plurality of sound producing devices areattached to the banjo. In the showing of the drawings these soundproducing devices include a steel triangle 5 having loosely connectedtherewith a rod or tappet. The triangle is supported from the neckportion of a ratchet device 6, the same being provided with an operatinghandle which, when rotated, causes the ratchet wheel therein and thespring influenced dog engaged thereby to produce a sound similar to thatmade by a trap drum. On the upper or opposite side of the flange t thereare supported other sound producing devices, those disclosed by thedrawings being in the nature of a rubber bulb which operates anautomobile horn and which is indicated by the numeral 9, a similar bulbwhich, when compressed, operates mechanism to imitate the bark of a dog,this device being inclicated by the numeral 10, and to the side thereofthere is supported on the said flange 4 a small metal squawker 8provided with a handle operated crank shaft which contacts with thevibratory element to produce a noise similar to that of an ordinary pawland ratchet.

On the rear edge of the handle or neck 2 of the instrument there issupported a cymbal 11 and a castanet 1.2, while on the outer end of thisportion of the instrument there is supported a string of metal sleighbells hung on a leather thong, a handle 13 connecting the ends of thethong, and this handle is loosely secured on the banjo.

On its opposite end the neck of the banjo has secured on its outercorner a metal tap bell 14 and the operating handle 15 for the castanet12.

In playing position, the instrument is supported as disclosed in Figure1 of the drawings. The instrument is designed to produce weird sounds aswell as clear musical tones and is, as above inferred, designed to beplayed by a musical comedian or in a band. During certain parts of theplaying of the banjo the musician will forcibly throw the implement awayfrom playing position to cause the same to contact with an obstacle, asillustrated in Figure 2. Such contact Will sound the triangle, cymbal,castanet and sleigh bells. The elastic support 5 will return theinstrument to initial position, and the contact of the bells, flexiblysupported cymbal, flexibly supported castanet and likewise flexiblysupported triangle Will cause the sounding of these devices.

Having described the invention, I claim In combination, a musicalinstrument adapted to support thereon a plurality of sound producingdevices and an elastic strap for supporting said instrument from thebody of the user and allowing said instrument to be thrown away from theuser to cause the automatic operation of the sound producing devices andthereafter to return the instrument to playing position against the bodyof the user.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FRANK R. WEAVER

